Project for Empty Space is located in Newark, NJ, and Chinatown, NYC, and has various programs that serve creative communities. PES centers culture makers and firmly believes that Artists Make Futures.

Help Us Reach Our $12,000 Goal & Support a Full Year of an Artist in Residence Studio!

Fifteen years ago, Project for Empty Space (PES) began as a radical idea: that artists whose work lives at the intersection of social discourse and imagination deserved space and time to make impact. Today, that idea has grown into a multifaceted ecosystem of residency programs, exhibitions, and public art initiatives across two cities.

This year, as we mark our 15th Anniversary, we are launching a special campaign to sustain the heart of our mission: the PES Artist in Residence (AIR) Program and help us fund a Full Artist in Residence Studio with $12,000.

Celebrating 15 Years of PES

What Does 15 Years Mean to PES?

We didn’t start with a building, a budget, or even a single city to call home. What we had was a deep conviction that art holds the power to bring about meaningful change. From the very beginning, we understood that working at the intersection of art and social justice would require us to confront challenges head-on—from political resistance to economic instability and cultural forces that seek to divide or silence.

Read the Full Director's Letter

Current Exhibitions

La Voz del Anonimato (The Voice of Anonymity)

110 EDISON PL, NEWARK - La Voz del Anonimato (The Voice of Anonymity) is a solo exhibition by 2025 Artist In Residence Layqa Nuna Yawar, on view from September 10, 2025 through January 18, 2026.

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Fine Line

800 BROAD ST, NEWARK - 800 BROAD ST, NEWARK - Fine Line is a solo exhibition by 2025 Artist In Residence Jake Troyli, on view from September 10, 2025 through January 18, 2026.

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The Space Between Light

128 BAXTER ST, NYC - The Space Between Light is a solo exhibition by Shoshanna Weinberger at PES FUTURES, on view from September 3, 2025 through January 31, 2026.

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